Ecological Assessment of a Biodiversity Park: Status and Future Challenges

Kunjer Village, Rajasthan

By Kaustubh Rau and Monica Kaushik

Land degradation is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing India. A total of 97.85 million hectares of the country’s land surface is degraded with Rajasthan being one of the most degraded states. This accounts for approximately 30 percent of the country’s land surface with half of this area being farmland that is degraded owing to overutilisation of synthetic chemicals, overgrazing, diminishing duration of growth between two crops and loss of shade trees. Our forests too suffer from degradation due to fragmentation, extraction of forest biomass, grazing and increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions.

Recent studies highlight that ecological restoration has immense potential to offset the biodiversity decline and stabilise the earth’s climate. If woven within the socio-economic context, restoration projects can also assist in livelihood generation and income augmentation. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that every single dollar spent on ecological restoration can yield nine dollars of economic benefits in return. Organisations that are working on some such projects are leveraging the existing government schemes and programmes to assist in ecological restoration.

It is in this context that we review the ecosystem restoration done on Gram Panchayat land in Kunjer village of Baran district, Rajasthan. Adani Foundation carries out a multitude of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in 28 villages around Kawai Thermal Power Plant (Adani Power Ltd.). A team from Azim Premji University was asked to assess a biodiversity park created in Kunjer village, which is one of the villages in the buffer zone of the power plant. The park is a joint effort between the District Administration (Baran), Gram Panchayat (Kunjer) and Adani Foundation. The University team was invited by Adani Foundation to assess the ecology of the park and suggest steps that can be taken to protect and improve its ecological profile. The team’s local stay and visits to the biodiversity park were organised by the Adani Foundation team.

In this report, we first discuss Kunjer Biodiversity Park and then, suggest recommendations for Adani Foundation’s activities in the Baran district, specifically in the environmental realm.

Biodiversity Park, Kunjer

The area of the park is approximately 32ha and is situated on the village commons. The land was degraded due to overgrazing and had a thick cover of an invasive tree species, namely vilayati kikar (Prosopis juliflora). The park creation was proposed in 2016 by the CEO (District Administration – Baran), Shri Bhagawati Prasad Kallal under the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan scheme, implemented jointly by the Gram Panchayat of Kunjer and Adani Foundation.

The University team visited the site on two successive days (29-30 Nov 2022). The park was surveyed on both days, with a more exhaustive walk being done on the second day. We also had an extensive meeting with the former sarpanch, Shri Prashant Patni, the current sarpanch, Smt Rajesh Patni and a member of the Adani Foundation, Shri Gopalsingh Deora, to understand the history, present status and challenges faced by the park.

The Gram Panchayat (Kunjer) and Adani Foundation have worked closely together to establish the park and maintain it. The Gram Panchayat provided the workforce for plantation, maintenance and patrolling of the park under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. The Adani Foundation provided financial support for park infrastructure, such as fences, trenches, borewells and water conservation structures and for tree planting. In subsequent years, they have also provided funding for the establishment of an outdoor gym.

The park boundary is secure with a trench, wire mesh fencing and an electric fence around it. A 500m canal has been dug within the park as a water conservation structure and it empties into a small pond. The dominant tree species within the park are the Dhak (Butea monosperma) and Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) with most trees being of reasonable girth indicating that they must have been present at the time of the creation of the park in 2016. Trees planted specifically, include many species of native trees, such as Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Siris (Albizzia lebbeck), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Badh (Ficus benghalensis), Lassora (Cordia myxa), etc. Naturally regenerating Ziziphus sp. form the understory but a few native shrub species, such as Limonia acidissima and Carissa opaca have been planted in the park too. This scheme of tree and shrub plantation is expected to hasten the recovery of the park to its historical vegetation in a couple of decades.  The park harbours a fair degree of wildlife with a family of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) being regular visitors (sighted by the University team on both days). Other animals sighted by the team include Indian Boar (Sus scrofa cristatus) and Indian Jungle Cat (Felis chaus). Animals reported by the guards include Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollus), Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and on a rare occasion, a crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).

Wooded section of the park where existing rootstock and planted trees show good growth

The canal dug as a water conservation measure

A grassland habitat in a less planted area of the park

Other features of the park include:

• A plantation zone with economically important trees, such as Amla (Phyllanthus amblica) and Orange (Citrus sp). It is hoped that after these trees mature and start bearing fruit, the harvest will generate funds for the park.
• A two-storey watchtower that includes a watchman’s quarters.
• A four-member watch and ward team that patrols the park.
• An outdoor gym (exercise equipment) for use by the villagers.

Natural regeneration of the native shrub and trees indicates that the park is doing well ecologically. Another encouraging sign of the successful restoration was the lack of recolonisation of the park by Prosopis juliflora. The tree cover in the park is adequate and the site shows good recovery from its original condition. It is well protected in terms of fencing and an active patrolling team. The physical infrastructure of the watchtower and fencing are in good condition.

It is important to draw attention to the work of the former sarpanch of the village, Shri. Prashant Patni, in the creation of this biodiversity park in Kunjer. A lawyer by training, Shri. Patni spearheaded the project and is still engaged in finding ways to protect this park from existing and future threats. He has a clear understanding of the current climate and biodiversity crisis that is affecting the agriculture and livelihood of this area. His logical measures and imagination of the restoration project have resulted in the stark transition from a degraded village commons to a restored biodiversity park. After the District Administration gave the go-ahead for the project, he worked closely with the Adani Foundation and used funds under MGNREGA for removing the extensive cover of Prosopis juliflora, digging trenches for safety from encroachers, ensuring water availability, plantation of native trees and construction of watch towers cum guard room.

Former Sarpanch, Shri Prashant Patni and current Sarpanch, Smt. Rajesh Patni

Witnessing the park’s increasing popularity and advocacy by the former sarpanch has motivated other sarpanches to initiate ecological restoration on their Gram Panchayat lands. Manual grass-cutting for fodder is still allowed, thus making fodder available to the village. The ex-sarpanch’s idea of this park as a place for recreation and relaxation especially for village women is commendable. The open gym in a small part of the park allows children and adults to visit and use this facility.

Interaction with village women employed at the park

Another effort that needs to be appreciated is the plantation of trees by visitors, including government officials and other key stakeholders.  These trees carry plaques indicating the names of the people who have planted these, thereby creating a sense of ownership of the park.

Recommendations for the park

• The continued protection of the park depends upon adequate funds being available for employing a team of 4-5 persons for active patrolling. The District Administration must be made aware of this and should release funds for this purpose. The ex-sarpanch, Shri Patni and Adani Foundation’s CSR team shared their idea of constituting a committee that will include representatives from the District Administration, Gram Panchayat (former or current sarpanch) and the CSR team of Adani Foundation. This committee needs to come into action soon for decisions regarding the future of the park.
• To protect this restored site in a fertile and heavily cultivated landscape, it is pertinent that all stakeholders feel and take ownership. The community needs to be sensitised about the ecosystem services from the park. For instance, Shri Patni shared that the mustard crop in the nearby agricultural fields has increased in yield as honeybees have increasingly started using the park to build honeycombs. Cultivation of mustard has started recently in this area and farmers tend to depend on beekeeping traders who bring honeycomb boxes to aid pollination. Additionally, he shared that the water table in the biodiversity park and surrounding agricultural fields has increased due to their water conservation measures. The village residents need to be made aware of such facets of benefits accruing to the village due to ecosystem restoration.
• Regular outreach and sensitisation of the nearby community can create a sense of value and ownership. It is recommended that education programmes be taken up on a regular basis where school children visit the park on a regular basis (if possible one day a week). Nature education programmes for school children are now carried out across the country and organisations in the state capital, Jaipur can be contacted to train local young men and women of the village in these programmes. Women of the village can be very important stakeholders in this park. Therefore, increasing their participation by either allowing them to celebrate local festivals or by becoming the local representative of the committee will be very crucial. These women representatives can be identified by the current sarpanch. If a proportion of fruits harvested from the park can be converted into products for long-term consumption (pickles, spreads, candies) by the local women then, that can provide income and a sense of value to the park.
• The model of conservation of village commons shown by the Kunjer Gram Panchayat is easily replicable and could be applied across the state. It is recommended that regular training programmes be offered by the District Administration (Baran) where village officials from all districts in Rajasthan can be called to see the benefits associated with such conservation measures. Training could include all aspects needed for conservation, including infrastructure measures, awareness of government schemes available for funds, and introduction to CSR organisations Experts can be identified within the state to offer such training. It is important that this training happens on-site so that direct experience of the biodiversity park is provided to participants.
• The biodiversity park is created after removing a highly invasive exotic tree Prosopis juliflora. Due to the abundance of Prosopis juliflora in the adjacent lands, there is a high probability that it could colonise the periphery of the park and gradually expand in coverage. Monitoring and quick removal of invasive species for an extended period is required. The plantation of exotic species needs to be avoided on the periphery and within the
• There are four major vegetation types in Baran district – Dry Deciduous Forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub, Thorn Scrub and Saline Grasslands. The regular plantation efforts in the park with assisted watering have resulted in a woodland habitat. However, we recommend that further plantation be avoided in a few locations to allow grassland or savannah habitats to recover. This will create a habitat for grassland or savannah specialist faunal species.
• We noticed a resident population of free-ranging dogs in the park kept for security reasons. However, there are increasing reports from India and other countries about the increasing depredation of wildlife by dogs. Therefore, we suggest restricting the movement of the free-ranging dogs within the park by either keeping them on leash or by enclosing areas around the watch tower to keep the dogs from wandering into the park.

Recommendations for Adani Foundation

• The University team also visited a site at Chhatrapur village where the sarpanch would like to conserve the village commons. Currently, Adani Foundation has provided help in deepening the existing water tank and strengthening the tank bund. The tank now has water throughout the year and provides great benefits to the community. Adjacent to the tank is the village commons that is now being considered for conservation measures similar to those done at Kunjer village. Ecologically, the Chhatrapur site has great potential for restoration as it is next to a water source. There is no invasion of Prosopis juliflora and there are several large Dhak (Butea monosperma) trees, which means ecologically it is in a better condition compared to Kunjer. It is recommended that if taken up for conservation, then this site be allowed to naturally regenerate. The most important measure that needs to be taken is to protect its boundaries by fencing and planting dense thorny species along the border. Stopping the entry of cattle into the site will allow the natural vegetation to regenerate. While natural regeneration is slower than traditional measures, such as tree planting, the outcome is better than what human intervention can produce.As Adani Foundation is involved in restoration in a few other sites, it is suggested they involve restoration ecologists from the beginning of the project. Resource persons who can be contacted for advice on restoration and training:
  • Restoration ecologists involved in the restoration of the nearby Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park in Jodhpur and Kishan Bagh in Jaipur. Their intimate knowledge of the dry- ecosystem and the challenges of restoring degraded sites will be immensely useful.
  • Restoration ecologists working on ongoing projects in similar habitats can help in designing a landscape-level restoration plan.
• As Rajasthan is one of the most degraded states in the country, we also recommend that Adani Foundation increase its activity in the environmental arena in the near future. The Foundation works in 28 villages around the Kawai Thermal Power Plant and with rapid changes being predicted due to climate change and environmental degradation, it is vital that village communities be equipped to overcome the challenges posed by new realities. Among activities that can be taken up are:
  • Drawing up heat action plans at the village level to combat extreme temperatures
  • Drawing up a plan for the conservation of village commons in all the 28 villages that Adani Foundation works in
  • Facilitation of ecological restoration of degraded village commons in the district with the help of restoration ecologists

AUTHORS
Kaustubh Rau, Assistant Professor, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru
Monica Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru